Simon Weaver proud of Harrogate Town "willpower" in FC United of Manchester win

Town, who went down to ten men in the first half, put haunts of their 4-3 defeat last month firmly to bed with a dominant performance at the CNG Stadium.

First half goals by Brendon Daniels, Jordan Thewlis and Jack Emmett were followed up by strikes from Paul Clayton and Joe Colbeck after the break.

Town remain four points behind National League North leaders Solihull Moors but now have a seven-point cushion inside the play-off zone.

Weaver said: "I'm really proud of the performance. Especially when we went down to ten men, we were resolute with our game plan.

"It was such an honest performance. They inflicted the willpower on another team and they folded because that willpower was so great.

"I'm more proud of that than anything. No one stopped running, every one stuck to their task and we scored some ruthless goals as well."

Warren Burrell's sending off was the only negative for Harrogate.

The midfielder was dismissed one minute for an over the ball lunge in the 40th minute.

Weaver said he did not think the tackle warranted a red card on initial viewing.

He said: "They reacted, as you do, when there is a fulsome challenge. The referee has reacted from there and sent him off.

"It happens. Ten years ago, it probably wouldn't.

Fortunately the lad is all right. It wasn't a straight leg one over the top. He has gone in full-blooded and mistimed it.

"There was a big crowd here. It's a tight-knit ground and emotions are high.

"We want to win things and keep accumulating. Warren has come in and done magnificently well. I tell him to get stuck in.

"He's doing his job. It's a bobbly pitch, and sometimes, in the heat of the moment you can mistime challenges.

"Lloyd (Kerry) mistimed one and perhaps got away with a booking on that occasion. Warren didn't.

"It only takes a little bit more of that edge to go over it. Maybe he did on that occasion. The lads had to do a job for him and they certainly did."

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